Lein Law Offices

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Common Causes Of Work-Related Injuries

These are the most common causes of workplace injuries.

We all face risks on the job. Some jobs are, of course, inherently more dangerous. A roofer or a police officer will naturally face more daily risks than most office workers.

Still, most job-related injury claims in Wisconsin involve just a few common causes. The most common claims stem from strains, falls and transportation accidents. Other leading causes include occupational diseases and repetitive stress injuries (those office jobs are not without risks).

The Wisconsin Workers’ Compensation Act (Wis. Stat. § 102.01) requires most employers to maintain workers’ compensation insurance, which provides benefits to employees injured on the job. The system is meant as an exclusive remedy designed to provide fast, efficient benefits to injured employees, including medical costs and a portion of lost wages.

Common Causes of Work Injuries

“Exclusive remedy” means employees typically cannot sue an employer. However, neither is there any burden to prove fault. In design, the system acknowledges the need to assist injured employees while protecting employers from the cost and consequence of liability litigation. In practice, an employee may still need the assistance of a workers’ compensation lawyer in Hayward to secure benefits, and an injured worker may still have one or more third-party claims for damages if someone other than an employer or co-worker caused or contributed to injury.

These are referred to as “third-party liability” claims, and they are specifically outlined in Wis. Stat. § 102.29. In the case of a transportation accident, for example, an employee may have a claim for damages against an at-fault driver, which is separate from a workers’ compensation claim for a traffic accident that occurred on the job.

Wisconsin Work Accident Causes

Much is known about the common causes of work injuries in Wisconsin. While certain occupations are at greater risk, most common causes are seen across industries and occupations.

Nationwide, construction accidents cause one in five fatal injuries. Primary causes are highway collisions, falls, struck by object, electrocution and caught-between injuries, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Still, the most commonly cited workplace violations include failure to use proper fall protection (29 CFR 1926.501), scaffolding and ladder violations, machinery guarding violations, failure to use proper respiratory protection, and electrical violations.

In Wisconsin, according to the Wisconsin Occupational Safety and Health Division, the most dangerous industries include construction, agriculture, manufacturing, retail, health care and transportation.

Many of these risks occur in most workplaces. Nationwide, the most common causes of work injuries include:

  • Transportation accidents
  • Strains
  • Falls
  • Repetitive stress
  • Occupational diseases
  • Machine accidents
  • Scaffolding and ladder accidents
  • Construction accidents

Wisconsin Work Injury Claims

Our work injury attorneys in Hayward and Winter have achieved successful results in cases pertaining to injuries, including:

  • Back, neck or spinal cord injuries
  • Head or brain injuries
  • Fractured bones
  • Toxic chemical exposures
  • Electrical injuries
  • Severe lacerations
  • Amputations
  • Tendonitis or carpal tunnel syndrome

Ready To Help If You Are Hurt On The Job

At Lein Law Offices, our Hayward workers’ compensation attorneys have more than 25 years of experience protecting the rights of injured workers. If you have suffered a work-related injury and are experiencing difficulties surrounding your workers’ compensation claim, do not hesitate to contact our law firm online or call 715-634-4273 for a free initial consultation.